Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 354, NWS Atlanta, GA

July 4, 1997Catoosa County, Whitfield County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 4, 1997, 6:45 PM EDT for Catoosa County, Whitfield County, Georgia. It was in force for 30 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jul 4, 1997, 6:45 PM EDT (22:45 UTC)
Expired
Jul 4, 1997, 7:15 PM EDT
In force
30 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Catoosa County, GA, Whitfield County, GA

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 4, 6:45 PM EDTThunderstorm WindDalton, GASeveral trees were knocked down by thunderstorm winds. A tree fell across power lines and a car in Dalton.

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 4, 5:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 173 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 1997-07-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 547 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 1997-07-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -41 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
547 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-412 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1429 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-41 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-52 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KATL 042246
SVRATL
GAC047-313-042315-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
645 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 1997
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  715 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA
 
   ...NORTHERN CATOOSA COUNTY...NORTHERN WHITFIELD COUNTY
 
AT 743 PM EDT WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM NEAR
GRAYSVILLE MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. THIS PATH WILL TAKE THE STORM OVER
COHUTTA IN WHITFIELD COUNTY BY 7 PM EDT. THIS STORM HAS BEEN ACCOMPANIED
WITH DAMAGING WINDS KNOCKING OVER SEVERAL TREES AND POWER LINES.
 
 
WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...LIGHTNING POSES A SERIOUS DANGER.
STAY INDOORS AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS. DON'T USE TELEPHONES OR
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES, UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY. IF BOATING OR
SWIMMING...GET TO LAND QUICKLY AND FIND SHELTER. IF IN THE OPEN FIND
A LOW SPOT AWAY FROM TREES, FENCES, AND POLES.
 
IF YOU EXPERIENCE STORM DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES OR TREES...OR HAIL THE
SIZE OF DIMES OR LARGER...PLEASE REPORT IT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE BY CALLING 770-486-8535.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 4, 3:59 PM EDT, 2 hours 46 minutes before
GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
091>098-103>113-050000-

NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
359 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 1997

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER PORTIONS
OF NORTH AND EVEN CENTRAL GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THIS
AREA IS GENERALLY NORTH OF A COLUMBUS...MACON...AGUSTA LINE. VERY
STRONG AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHERN TENNESSEE AND EXTREME
NORTHWEST ALABAMA MAY CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND MOVE TO THE
EAST...AFFECTING PORTIONS OF NORTH AND POSSIBLY CENTRAL GEORGIA.

A WARM AND VERY MOIST AIRMAS COMBINED WITH THE LIFTING FROM AN
APPROACHING FRONTAL SYSTEM AND PLENTY OF AFTERNOON HEATING WILL AID
IN MAKING THE AREA RIPE FOR THESE STRONG STORMS TO CONTINUE OVER THE
AREA. GIVEN THE SHALLOW LAYER OF MOISTURE IN THE GEORGIA ATMOSPHERE
AND THE DRYER MIDLEVELS...VERY STRONG DOWNBURST WINDS MAY BE POSSIBLE
WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

SPOTTERS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN CASE ACTIVATION IS NEEDED. EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL SHOULD MONITOR THE SITUATION BY BEING ALERT TO
FURTHER STATEMENTS...SHORT TERM FORECASTS...AND ANY WATCHES OR
WARNINGS ISSUED BY THIS OFFICE.

99
Special weather statement, Jul 4, 4:00 PM EDT, 2 hours 45 minutes before
GAZ001>166-050000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
400 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 1997

HOT TEMPERATURES ACROSS GEORGIA ARE EXPECTED TO MODERATE THE NEXT
COUPLE OF DAYS. WITH A RETURN TO MORE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AS WELL
AS SOMEWHAT LOWER HUMIDITIES THE HEAT INDEX IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN
BELOW 105 OVER MOST OF THE STATE SATURDAY. HOWEVER SOME AREAS OF
SOUTH GEORGIA COULD SEE A HEAT INDEX NEAR 105 FOR A COUPLE OF
HOURS SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

A HEAT INDEX OF 105 IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE LEVEL WHERE PEOPLE
BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE EXTREME DISCOMFORT OR STRESS. WITH AN INCREASE
IN CLOUDS AND EVEN LOWER TEMPERATURES ON SUNDAY...THE HEAT INDEX
SHOULD REMAIN BELOW 105 FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.
Special weather statement, Jul 4, 4:00 PM EDT, 2 hours 45 minutes before
GAZ001>166-050000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
400 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 1997

HOT TEMPERATURES ACROSS GEORGIA ARE EXPECTED TO MODERATE THE NEXT
COUPLE OF DAYS. WITH A RETURN TO MORE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AS WELL
AS SOMEWHAT LOWER HUMIDITIES THE HEAT INDEX IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN
BELOW 105 OVER MOST OF THE STATE SATURDAY. HOWEVER SOME AREAS OF
SOUTH GEORGIA COULD SEE A HEAT INDEX NEAR 105 FOR A COUPLE OF
HOURS SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

A HEAT INDEX OF 105 IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE LEVEL WHERE PEOPLE
BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE EXTREME DISCOMFORT OR STRESS. WITH AN INCREASE
IN CLOUDS AND EVEN LOWER TEMPERATURES ON SUNDAY...THE HEAT INDEX
SHOULD REMAIN BELOW 105 FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.
Special weather statement, Jul 4, 4:04 PM EDT, 2 hours 41 minutes before
GAZ001>166-050000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
400 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 1997

HOT TEMPERATURES ACROSS GEORGIA ARE EXPECTED TO MODERATE THE NEXT
COUPLE OF DAYS. WITH A RETURN TO MORE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AS WELL
AS SOMEWHAT LOWER HUMIDITIES THE HEAT INDEX IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN
BELOW 105 OVER MOST OF THE STATE SATURDAY. HOWEVER SOME AREAS OF
SOUTH GEORGIA COULD SEE A HEAT INDEX NEAR 105 FOR A COUPLE OF
HOURS SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

A HEAT INDEX OF 105 IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE LEVEL WHERE PEOPLE
BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE EXTREME DISCOMFORT OR STRESS. WITH AN INCREASE
IN CLOUDS AND EVEN LOWER TEMPERATURES ON SUNDAY...THE HEAT INDEX
SHOULD REMAIN BELOW 105 FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.
Special weather statement, Jul 4, 4:07 PM EDT, 2 hours 38 minutes before
GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
091>098-103>113-050000-

NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
359 PM EDT FRI JUL 4 1997

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER PORTIONS
OF NORTH AND EVEN CENTRAL GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THIS
AREA IS GENERALLY NORTH OF A COLUMBUS...MACON...AUGUSTA LINE. VERY
STRONG AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHERN TENNESSEE AND EXTREME
NORTHWEST ALABAMA MAY CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND MOVE TO THE
EAST...AFFECTING PORTIONS OF NORTH AND POSSIBLY CENTRAL GEORGIA.

A WARM AND VERY MOIST AIRMASS COMBINED WITH THE LIFTING FROM AN
APPROACHING FRONTAL SYSTEM AND PLENTY OF AFTERNOON HEATING WILL AID
IN MAKING THE AREA RIPE FOR THESE STRONG STORMS TO CONTINUE OVER THE
AREA. GIVEN THE SHALLOW LAYER OF MOISTURE IN THE GEORGIA ATMOSPHERE
AND THE DRYER MIDLEVELS...VERY STRONG DOWNBURST WINDS MAY BE POSSIBLE
WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
SPOTTERS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT IN CASE ACTIVATION IS NEEDED. EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL SHOULD MONITOR THE SITUATION BY BEING ALERT TO
FURTHER STATEMENTS...SHORT TERM FORECASTS...AND ANY WATCHES OR
WARNINGS ISSUED BY THIS OFFICE.

99

The office that day

Everything else NWS Atlanta, GA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 4, 6:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDade, Walker48 min
Jul 4, 6:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCMurray32 min
Jul 4, 7:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCFannin, Gilmer45 min
Jul 4, 7:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDawson, Lumpkin, Pickens53 min
Jul 4, 7:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCUnion53 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Georgia, 1997Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1997

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.